Men’s Fashion

Angel Men (A*Men) Pure Tonka by Mugler

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This will be the second of my one time wear, cologne reviews, of scents I’ve tried out while traveling. Today, is a Thierry Mugler cologne, that I sampled while walking around the airport in Ibiza…Angel Men Pure Tonka. Now, I’ve smelled this before and love tonka, so I was excited to give it a full wear and my impressions on this scent. As usual, I’m going to cover what’s in it, how it smells, performs, and whether or not I think that it is worth a buy.

What does Pure Tonka by Thierry Mugler Smell Like?

Notes include: tonka bean, lavender, coffee, rosemary, patchouli, vanilla

Click here to try: AMen Pure Tonka Eau De Toilette 100ml

My Full Review

Admittedly, this may not have been the best time to test out, Pure Tonka. This is a fall/winter cologne and I was testing it in late spring, in Ibiza, so it was pretty warm. Not too awful but around 75 degrees F, which is probably the max I would wear this one around in.

Tonka bean is probably one of my favorite ingredients in men’s fragrances, as it is really smooth and creamy, when done right.

The opening of Pure Tonka doesn’t disappoint, there is a noticeable burnt roast aroma provided by the coffee note that pairs quite beautifully with the tonka bean.

There seems to be at least some resemblance, in my mind, to Pure Havane. The latter is much heavier with tobacco and honey, but I do get a bit of the same sweetness for some period of time.

During the initial stages, there is a minty coolness which peaks through, as well.

Upon my second testing of this, a few years after the initial review, I get way more coffee than I remember. It’s dark, roasted, with that cocoa finish.

Very well done and I really adore its pairing with tonka bean. I think that the sweet notes, don’t smell refined like in a sugary sense, closer to the raw and unrefined ingredients.

Pure Tonka is of course very sweet but not in a girlish way. It retains it sense of masculinity, with a darker, warm, and almost brooding appeal.

The lavender note is there and seems to give Pure Tonka some grounding and prevents it from becoming an overly sweet mess.

This is a very gourmand fragrance, the trio of tonka, coffee, and vanilla create a chocolate-like aroma that is very rich and as if you were walking into a bakery.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection on Pure Tonka, like the other A*Men flankers, is fantastic. You really only need a few sprays and the job will be done. No weakness here.

Longevity wise, it is also a beast, I’ve gotten over 8 hours on a warm day, so I figure it should be 10+ during winter wear.

Update: Coming back to this one, in cooler temperatures, and it did go above 9 hours.

Pure Tonka has the appeal of being able to be worn casually, while pulling double duty for romantic wear. Again, you don’t need to spray very much, but this is a great winter scent to get closer to someone.

It’s fairly unisex in its presentation, more masculine, but it could be worn by anyone without much trouble. It’s wearable in most any situation, just avoid the high heat, and stick to the autumn and winter months.

Overall Impression of Pure Tonka

Overall, is Pure Tonka worth a buy? Yes, provided you know what you’re getting. To me, it almost seemed like too much of a good thing, at times. I really do enjoy it but it began to drag on my nerves a bit.

Maybe that was only due to me traveling and not being in a great mood, but I thought that I would point that out. I actually think, that I might like it better than Pure Havane, but I don’t know if I like it more than Pure Malt…but I’d have to do more testing.

The A*Men series of scents are pretty much great across the board and Pure Tonka is no exception.

Update: Coming back to Pure Tonka for another time, it is about on par with my enjoyment of Pure Havane and not as good as Pure Malt. It has a lot of elements that I really enjoy, but I have to be in the mood for a gourmand scent.

This will have some mass appeal, but it is going to one for either tonka bean fans or those who like sweeter scents. It’s really good overall.

Update Again: This has been discontinued, as far as I can tell. That’s unfortunate, as this was a fun one.

Boss Bottled EDT (No. 6) by Hugo Boss

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In this latest installment of this site’s series of ratings and reviews of men’s fragrances, I want to take a closer look at Boss Bottled EDT (aka No. 6) by Hugo Boss. It was released in 1998. I have already created a list of the top Hugo Boss colognes but I wanted to zoom in a bit and focus on this one individual fragrance from the line.

So, continue below to get my full take on this scent and whether or not it is worth a buy. Note: I have updated this review, 4 years after the original, to expand further on No. 6.

What does Boss Bottled EDT (No. 6) Smell Like?

Notes include: apple, cinnamon, vanilla, woods, plum, sandalwood

Click here to try: Boss No. 6 by Hugo Boss for Men – 3.3 Ounce EDT Spray

Full Review

My first impression of Number 6 is that it is a really clean fragrance. Note: It just gets called Boss Bottled EDT, nowadays. I could right away see how this could work as an everyday wear and something that people around you would respond positively towards.

The apple note is most noticeable to me, and the way it blends with the cinnamon, sort of reminds me of the flavoring in Apple Cinnamon Toaster Strudels. Not like the apple note in something such as Tommy Hilfiger.

Up top, the apple gets paired with a somewhat tart plum. Though, I’d still lean toward calling the entire composition sweet, at this point.

The first part of the wear, is more of a fruity cologne, with underlying spices. It will then shift, towards being less dominated by these notes.

As we move further along, the vanilla and wood notes, really start to come through. Sandalwood, cedar, and other woods begin to rise of from the base. The vanilla, which was always present, takes over for much of the plum and apple.

The vanilla note does give it that smooth sweetness, which I tend to like, but I don’t feel as if Boss Bottled goes too far into the ‘sweet’ category (during the dry down).

This is because the sandalwood and cedar notes especially, give it a woodsy base, that seems to keep it masculine and intriguing.

Finally, what I’m left with is a woody vanilla fragrance with strong whiffs of apple and cinnamon. It is creamy, fresh, and still sweet.

While this has been replicated by others recently, Boss Bottled, for sure had plenty of uniqueness when released in the 90s.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This one isn’t a projection beast but it isn’t totally subdued either. There are many other options for guys who want a loud fragrance, Number 6 however, is soft to moderate in its scent but still quite sensual.

For the first hour, it will create a nice radius of scent around my skin, and then draws closer.

Longevity wise, I’d say it’s on the lower end of moderate…4-6 hours of decent projection, which was quite disappointing. That’s not absolutely terrible, but if you’re paying full price per bottle, it can be.

Boss Bottled is a rather versatile scent. Climate wise, it can fit in most situations, except for extreme heat and humidity.

Honestly, it’s not the worst at that, just not great in the summer months either. The rest of the year, and especially temperate climates, it works very well.

Outside of the seasonal aspect, this Hugo Boss scent is very versatile. It can work for younger men, but isn’t limited to that set. Not that this is the most mature perfume, but, older guys could certainly wear this.

I’ve worn this casually, semi-formally, and to an office setting. No issues with any of that. Is it attractive? Yes, the masculine sweetness will garner complements, and can be used for dates.

Bottled No. 6 isn’t really a club scent, in the sense that, you want a projection beast. If you want subtlety, sure.

Overall Impression of Boss Bottled No. 6

Overall, I think that Boss Bottled is a very good cologne. It is pleasant, versatile, sexy, and seems to work well in temperatures outside of the brutal summer.

Is it a buy? I’d lean towards yes. While it smells great, it doesn’t necessarily perform as well as other potential colognes.

However, it isn’t terribly expensive either, and I could definitely see a guy getting use out of it.

Though, nowadays, I might just pick up a bottle of Ferrari Black which is a cheaper version of this scent pretty much. Since this isn’t an amazing performer, you should consider getting something close to this smell, for a whole lot less money.

I still like this one and it hasn’t completely lost a step. But, it did come out 25 years ago, and a lot has been done that is better than Bottled EDT. At a discount, I might still pick this up versus all of the imitators that have tried to mimic this Hugo Boss.

Intimately Beckham by David Beckham

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I have already reviewed a few fragrances from the David Beckham line of men’s colognes (The Essence and Instinct) and thought that I’d tackle another one of the popular scents, Intimately Beckham. I want to take a closer look to answer some questions as to its particular scent and performance during wear. This is another really affordable everyday cologne but is it worth a purchase?

What does Intimately Beckham Smell Like?

intimately-beckham-men-edt-50ml-30003492-0-1321522359000

Notes include: Amber, sandalwood, cardamom, grapefruit, star anise, nutmeg, violet

My Full Review

Intimately Beckham is a bit of a change up from the two scents that I previously reviewed. It is a play between sweet and spicy but not in a heavy way, it is more of a refreshing spice and not overwhelming.

The opening is fairly woodsy/earthy from the violet, sandalwood, cardamom, and of course the nutmeg note which highlights this cologne’s start. I’m honestly not too big of a fan of the opening 10-15 minutes of this fragrance, it’s kind of weird and synthetic to me but I think that it develops pretty well from there.

There are some light citrus notes in the opening, but they don’t particularly stand out, to my nose. It’s a bit sweet, but I mostly pick up on cardamom and nutmeg, paired with those notes such as grapefruit.

When it finally does develop, I get a total late autumn to winter wear vibe from this scent. It would probably be awful to wear outside on a hot day, as it’d just become an overheated mess.

On the other hand, when used in its element, Intimately Beckham provides a warm amber and slightly powdery aroma that vaguely reminds me of a lower grade version of The One by D&G.

The sandalwood base, really begins to take hold for me, about 20 minutes in. At that point, any citrus is pretty much gone. Violet and amber emerge, the spice of anise/nutmeg/cardamom, pretty much surround these notes.

Finally, we get to what we’re left with for the remainder of the wear. Sandalwood is a major player in the latter stages. Frankly, the major player. It is soaked in a nice amber note, with a nutmeg spice.

It’s warm, fresh, with enough underlying sweetness to prevent it from going too heavy into the spiced category. It’s actually very smooth and refined, at this stage. Intimately smells much more expensive than its low price tag would otherwise indicate.

Sillage, Versatility, and How Long Does it Last?

Intimately Beckham actually projects itself better than Instinct, in my opinion. It does seem to have more strength although like Instinct, doesn’t shave the type of longevity I want out of a cologne.

I’d call the sillage moderate, for the first hour or so. Then, fairly light thereafter. On skin, it seems to go 4-5 hours. Sometimes, a little less, but usually it will hit those metrics just fine.

It’s safe and non offensive and does smell very pleasant for casual wear on the cooler days of the year. Again, avoid the heat with this one. It’s a warmer, fresh, and cozy sort of cologne. Not going to hold up well in the summer.

It is, however, quite an attractive fragrance. For younger guys, this can be an all around wear for autumn and winter. It is mature enough, to be used for dates or evenings out, as well.

Overall Impression of Intimately Beckham

Overall, this fragrance does smell good, but it isn’t a standout must have, for me anyway. For the price, it isn’t a terrible buy but it won’t set you apart much from the crowd.

It is attractive and the people around you will probably like it, while it lasts. If it were more expensive, I’d say no but at this price point, I don’t think it’s a bad buy at all.

Intimately Beckham is a good pick up for the younger set. It’s dirt cheap, but you get a very nice aroma from it. Performance isn’t great, but you can certainly re-apply or over spray, without breaking the bank. If this lasted a 6-8 hours on skin, it’d be an absolute steal. As is, it’s not a bad bargain.

Mont Blanc Legend vs. Individuel Cologne Comparison

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For this men’s cologne comparison, I want to take a close look at two entries from Mont Blanc’s collection of scents, Individuel vs. Legend. Which one of these popular perfumes, has the better smell? Which lasts longer? I will compare them in the usual categories and have included my full review of each linked below. Then, I will declare which one I think is actually the top fragrance.

Tale of the Tape

Mont Blanc Legend

Notes include: Bergamot, Pineapple Leaf, Sandalwood, Apple, rose, oak moss, lemon verbena, geranium, lavender,  And Tonka Bean

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend Eau de Toilette 3.3 fl.oz.

Read my review: Mont Blanc Legend

Individuel

Notes include: Cinnamon, oakmoss, vanilla, mint, bergamot, lavender, sandalwood, violet, and more

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Individuel Eau de Toilette, 2.5 fl. oz.

Read my review: Mont Blanc Individuel

Opening

Individuel is led by notes of cinnamon, vanila, and sandalwood. It is sweet, creamy, and a slightly spiced woody aroma that reminds me a lot of Original Santal or a toned down, Joop!

What separates it from those two fragrances, is the bergamot, juniper, and raspberry notes. That gives Individuel a fruitier aroma than those other two.

Legend starts off with fruit notes of pineapple, apple, and bergamot. They are very clean with a nice crisp scent. Then, you get a layer of both tonka bean and lavender.

Which is better? I like the opening of Legend, it is attractive and easy to wear. However, Individuel has that warm sweetness, that is very easy to enjoy. It’s like a more affordable Original Santal, especially at the start, and that’s a scent I like a lot.

Edge: Individuel

Projection

Both of these fragrances are pretty moderate. The sillage is good, but not huge, for either. No real clear winner for this category.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Individuel lasts for about 6-8 hours, on my skin. That’s a solid amount of time and will work for most purposes. With Legend, I get 5-6 hours, and that is pretty consistent. Individuel isn’t an insanely long lasting cologne, but it wins this round.

Edge: Individuel

Versatility

Both of these colognes are casual, work, and daytime wears mostly. You can wear them out for an evening, but they aren’t really ‘sexy’ or club beasts, by any stretch. However, Legend can fit in more year round, in all climates.

Meanwhile, Individuel, is better in cooler weather and can venture into springtime. Not that good in the heat.

Edge: Legend

Overall Scent

Mont Blanc Legend to me, is a simple and pleasant fragrance, that is very versatile with a clean and non-offensive aroma. It’s really popular because it has that great citrus, tonka bean, and lavender scent with some woodiness in the base to add depth.

Individuel, is the slightly better option, in my mind. It has that Original Santal-like blend but with an added raspberry note, which keeps it sweet and quite fresh. It’s not an amazing fragrance, but I’ve always enjoyed it a bit more than wearing Legend.

Matter of fact, Legend Night, is the best Mont Blanc cologne and what I wear consistently.

I like this sweet warm smell with hints of cinnamon and sandalwood, that is in Individuel. Plus, it will give me a few extra hours of wear. It’s a close contest, but I know which I give the win to.

Winner: Individuel

Versace Man Eau Fraiche vs Nautica Voyage

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For this fragrance comparison, I want to take a closer look at two best-selling men’s fragrances on the market, Nautica Voyage vs. Versace Man Eau Fraiche. Which of these colognes smells the best? The Versace summertime winner? Or can the inexpensive scent take the win? I will compare each in a number or categories, declare a winner, and have linked to my original reviews below.

Tale of the Tape

Nautica Voyage

Notes include: apple, musk, cedar, lotus, amber, mimosa, and oak moss

Click here to try: Nautica Voyage Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 oz

Read my original review: Nautica Voyage Review

Versace Man Eau Fraiche

Notes include: Lemon, Rosewood, Carambola, Cedar leaves, Tarragon, Sage, Musk, Amber, Sycamore

Click here to try: Versace Man Eau Fraiche By Gianni Versace For Men Edt Spray 3.4 Oz

Read my review: Man Eau Fraiche

Opening

Nautica Voyage opens with a cooled and crisp air about it and this is joined by a watery note. It has a floral and musky start with mimosa leading the way, but also a nice juicy green apple. It’s green and the musk kind of feels too strong, but it’s a decent start, just not my favorite aspect.

Versace Man Eau Fraiche hits with a blast of citrus notes, particularly the lemon, with a fairly unique inclusion of carambola. Beyond that, the fragrance includes tarragon and sage, for a bit of an herbal spice to it. It’s very clean and bright.

Which has the better start? I greatly prefer the way that Eau Fraiche begins. The lemon, bergamot, and starfruit together is great. I’m not too big of a fan of how Voyage opens, it’s okay, but never draws me in.

Edge: Eau Fraiche

Projection

Both of these fragrances fall squarely in the moderate camp. Then, they do move into a lighter and airy sort of freshness for the rest of the wear. There’s no clear advantage.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Voyage is a good performer for its price point, lasting on my skin, for 5-7 hours. Not amazing, but for under $20, it’s great. Eau Fraiche is a 6-7 hour performer for me. A little more consistent, maybe, but not a real advantage.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Voyage can work year round, but it is better in the warmer months, of the year. It’s a casual scent, that can fit into some work environments, but skews younger. Seasonally, the Versace fits the same role. It is more of an attractive scent and has more maturity.

If you had to wear one for a date, I’d go with Eau Fraiche. A refined fragrance and takes this category.

Edge: Eau Fraiche

Overall Scent

Nautica Voyage is a really great option for guys who want something inexpensive and mostly casual. I like it more as it wears on, the base notes are smoother, and I don’t get as heavy of a musk and mimosa note.

It becomes drier and woodier, with that same semi-aquatic feeling throughout. To me, it’s not an amazing cologne, just an over-performing cheap cologne.

Versace Eau Fraiche is a very good summertime scent. I really love the fruit notes in this one, it dries down with an amber and woody base, that also is quite nice. It’s just a better constructed fragrance than is Voyage. It smells better and is a step above the Nautica in quality.

This contest isn’t very close for me, as I’d rather wear Eau Fraiche a vast majority of the time, if I had to pick.

Winner: Eau Fraiche